Award season

 

Talk about a parade… but, first, the 2020 American Music Awards: it seems fitting that pop icon Taylor Swift won big there last week. Not only did she snatch Artist of the year, but she also got Favorite female artist, Favorite video and top Female pop/rock vocalist. And not only did she earn all these awards — she also set records most times: a new record for Favorite female artist (5 wins), and an extended record for Artist of the year (6 wins, like she could still improve on that…). While all this was going on, she also released a live studio version of her latest album Folklore — as well as an accompanying documentary, to cap off an extremely productive year for the artist, lockdown or no lockdown…

Enter the Grammy awards, arguably the Oscars of music, i.e. the most coveted awards musicians would typically strive for — if they’re into that sort of thing: not all of them are, but that’s besides the point. While the ceremony is to take place next January (a lifetime away, some may argue), nominees were recently announced and that has the music world buzzing, whether you want it or not. While our friend Taylor Swift is well presented here as well with 6 nominations — a second place tie with fellow artists Dua Lipa and Roddy Rich —  the very fact that she is tied for second place is saying something about the sheer importance of the artist standing at number one.

You guessed it (probably): that artist’s name is Beyoncé. Of course. While the generation-defining hasn’t released a new LP per se since 2016, she has however — very visibly — participated in the 2019 Lion King animated remake’s soundtrack — as well as the film itself — in which she perfectly showcased her remarkable abilities. Along with that film (and soundtrack) came another film / visual album, which also got nominated here. The song “Black parade”, which was released in 2020 as a timely musical reflection on these racially troubled times, was astutely added to a deluxe edition of the soundtrack — and earned itself a Record of the year nomination. “Brown skin girl”, also from the soundtrack, earned a Best music video nomination. The superstar artist is even competing against herself: her duet with Megan Thee Stallion, “Savage”, is also in the running for Record of the year…

Let us hope 2021 is Beyoncé’s year. And that, just maybe, she may grace us mere mortals with a new musical offering in the shape of an album… Who knows? Miracles do exist: by the time the Grammys take place, there will be a new president in the White House…